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Here is another "special" edition M3 from BMW. We love limited edition models but this really is nothing more than an M3 with existing package and some matte paint. Almost amusing that BMW chose red, white, and blue paint schemes for these cars until we remembered the Union Jack influenced our own US flag colors. In addition to the matte paint the cars get a black interior with stitching to match the exterior, Alcantara wrapped steering wheels, and black rims.

Only 30 of these will be made but it makes us wonder, what is the point? It is just an M3 with different paint and optional equipment standard. No engine changes, no 4.4 liter out of the GTS, nothing special just what is already available other than the paint realy. Just a quick cash grab and all of them will no doubt sell.

The press release below also mentions an M Performance Edition M5 which is just an M5 with options already available included. These Performance Editions really are not adding any performance so why they are called Performance Editions for anything other than marketing we have no clue.

Press release:

The new BMW M3 and M5 M Performance Editions

31.05.2012

Two exclusive new M Performance Editions for the BMW M3 and BMW M5 are being built by BMW M GmbH solely for the UK market. Just thirty of each model will be available costing £74,080 OTR for the M3 M Performance Edition and the M5 M Performance Edition is priced at £95,140 OTR.

Showcasing BMW Individual, these M Performance Editions will bring three new Frozen paint colours to the UK for the first time; BMW Individual Japan Red with a Frozen Red wrap, BMW Individual Frozen White and BMW Individual Frozen Blue. All are on sale now. To complement the striking exterior colours, all M5 M Performance Editions come with Full Black Merino leather upholstery and all M3 M Performance Editions come with extended Black Novillo leather upholstery, both with contrasting Mugello Red, Lotus White or Tobago Blue stitching as standard.

The new BMW M3 M Performance Edition features BMW's class-leading 420hp V8 engine with power transferred to the road via a standard seven-speed M DCT transmission and variable M differential. The car also comes with the Competition Package as standard, which features 10mm lowered suspension, Electronic Damper Control with Sport mode and a revised DSC+ system.

but these "performance edition" cars are starting to piss me off, totally pointless

BMW has recently started a program called "Spot the idiots". One of the ways to do that is selling Individual M3's at much higher prices under special edition name. From what i figured, BMW thinks there are still some idiots out there which incredibly are even more stupid than the crowd that bought previous special editions so they made room for a even more special edition and call it "performance edition" but surprisingly the performance is unchanged, what has changed is the price. But idiots can't get it. This is the ultimate idiot spotting edition.

BMW has recently started a program called "Spot the idiots". One of the ways to do that is selling Individual M3's at much higher prices under special edition name. From what i figured, BMW thinks there are still some idiots out there which incredibly are even more stupid than the crowd that bought previous special editions so they made room for a even more special edition and call it "performance edition" but surprisingly the performance is unchanged, what has changed is the price. But idiots can't get it. This is the ultimate idiot spotting edition.

I tried to rep you, but I need to spread it around. Anyway, I completely agree. And I also agree with @Sticky's point about the cash grab. MB/AMG did the same thing for the C63 with the "Edition 1."

I don't know too much about it, but it's a C63 with different color stitching in the interior, AMG logo (not the letters) in the seat back head rests, maybe different color paint, and I'm not sure but maybe different wheels (could be the 19" multi-spoke). Also, I think different paint, maybe matte.

I don't know too much about it, but it's a C63 with different color stitching in the interior, AMG logo (not the letters) in the seat back head rests, maybe different color paint, and I'm not sure but maybe different wheels (could be the 19" multi-spoke). Also, I think different paint, maybe matte.

The Edition 1 may also come with the performance package. So basically, it's a P31 car with differents stitching and matte paint. And it's limited number production, but so what? That's my feeling anyway. I don't know, if you're a big manufacturer like Benz and BMW and you slap on a limited edition to a car that a million people already own, then throw in something sexy like a different cam/head package or a more aggressive tune. Something that really makes it a rare treat.

The Edition 1 may also come with the performance package. So basically, it's a P31 car with differents stitching and matte paint. And it's limited number production, but so what? That's my feeling anyway. I don't know, if you're a big manufacturer like Benz and BMW and you slap on a limited edition to a car that a million people already own, then throw in something sexy like a different cam/head package or a more aggressive tune. Something that really makes it a rare treat.

At least it gets a performance package. This Performance Edition just gets matte paint so instead of being faster it looks faster.